Blizzard have announced that on August 27th, World of Warcraft players will be able to step back in time, when World of Warcraft Classic is released, with a very awesome collectors edition as an option.

With World of Warcraft Classic, Blizzard has rebuilt the original game, in its most polished and complete state—as it was at the time of the “Drums of War” update (patch 1.12.0), originally released 23 August, 2006. Included for all subscribers at no additional cost, World of Warcraft Classic gives players the opportunity to re-experience together the moments that came to define early WoW, like 40-player raids on Molten Core; days-long PvP battles at Tarren Mill; and the grand, server-wide effort to open the gates of Ahn’Qiraj.

“Building and launching World of Warcraft back in 2004 was immensely challenging,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. “A tornado literally tore the roof off one of the game’s data centers during the early days of testing—but Blizzard was fortunate to have hundreds, and then thousands, and then millions of people around the world cheering our developers on.

“Like many of our players, everyone at Blizzard was fuelled by the excitement of seeing the world of Azeroth from the ground level, through the eyes of the heroes inhabiting and fighting over it,” Brack continued. “Azeroth has always been a wondrous and deadly place, and it was especially so at the time of WoW’s launch, when everyone was discovering its vistas and exploring its dungeons for the first time—all while helping and supporting the company as everyone here worked through the many technical struggles of hosting a game of this size.

“That early experience was incredibly important to Blizzard. It taught us many things about ourselves as a developer and publisher, and about the global community of players that we feel honoured to be a part of. The World of Warcraft Classic experience is very different from the Azeroth we know today, but we love it for what it is and what it stands for. We can’t wait to get reacquainted with this dangerous, demanding, and rewarding world with all of our friends, new and old.”

Those who want to get the ultimate edition of World of Warcraft Classic can do so with the Collectors Edition.

On 9 October, this treasure trove of collectables and in-game bonus items comes with 30 days of game time for World of Warcraft and includes an imposing statue of Ragnaros the Firelord that stands over 10 inches tall; a pin depicting the head of Onyxia, Broodmother of the Black Dragonflight; a mousepad adorned with a map of Azeroth; a set of fine art prints that illustrate Azeroth’s storied past; and a pair of mounts*—the Alabaster Stormtalon, and the Alabaster Thunderwing—in honour of the moment WoW players first took to the skies.

It will be priced at $144.95 and players can pre-order it now direct from Blizzard.